All About Periods

A period is a release of blood from a girl's uterus,
out through her vagina. It is a sign that she is getting close to the end of puberty.

There is a lot to learn about periods. Here are some common questions that teens
have.

When Do Most Girls Get Their Period?

Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But getting it any time
between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl's body has its own schedule.

There isn't one right age for a girl to get her period. But there are some clues
that it will start soon:

Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start
to develop.

Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid
(sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge
usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.

What Causes a Period?

A period happens because of changes in
hormones
in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the
female hormones
estrogen
and
progesterone
. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up.
The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and start developing.
If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process
happens all over again.

It usually takes about a month for the lining to build up, then break down. That
is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.

How Does Ovulation Relate to Periods?

Ovulation (pronounced: ov-yoo-LAY-shun) is the release of
an egg from the ovaries. The same hormones that cause the uterus lining to build up
also cause an egg to leave one of the ovaries. The egg travels through a thin tube
called a fallopian tube to the uterus.

If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the wall of the uterus,
where over time it develops into a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterus
lining breaks down and bleeds, causing a period.

Do Periods Happen Regularly When Menstruation Starts?

For the first few years after a girl starts her period, it may not come regularly.
This is normal at first. By about 2–3 years after her first period, a girl's periods
should be coming around once every 4–5 weeks.

Can a Girl Get Pregnant as Soon as Her Period Starts?

Yes, a girl can get pregnant as soon as her period starts. A girl can even get
pregnant right before her very first period. This is because a girl's hormones might
already be active. The hormones may have led to
ovulation
and the building of the uterine wall. If a girl has sex, she can get pregnant,
even though she has never had a period.

How Long Do Periods Last?

Periods usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter or last longer.

How Often Does a Period Happen?

Periods usually happen about once every 4–5 weeks. But some girls get their periods
a little less or more often.

Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?

You have many choices about how to deal with
period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some
girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.

Most girls use pads when they first get their period. Pads are
made of cotton and come in lots of different sizes and shapes. They have sticky strips
that attach to the underwear.

Many girls find tampons more convenient than pads, especially
when playing sports or swimming. A tampon is a cotton plug that a girl puts into her
vagina. Most tampons come with an applicator that guides the tampon into place. The
tampon absorbs the blood. Don't leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours because this
can increase your risk of a serious infection called toxic
shock syndrome.

Some girls prefer a menstrual cup. Most menstrual cups are made
of silicone. To use a menstrual cup, a girl inserts it into her vagina. It holds the
blood until she empties it.

How Much Blood Comes Out?

It may look like a lot of blood, but a girl usually only loses a few tablespoons
of blood during the whole period. Most girls need to change their pad, tampon, or
menstrual cup about 3‒6 times a day.

Will I Have Periods for the Rest of My Life?

When women reach menopause (around age 45‒55), their periods will permanently stop.
Women also won't have a period while they are pregnant.

What Is PMS?

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms
that happen before or during her period. These symptoms can include moodiness, sadness,
anxiety, bloating, and acne. The symptoms go away after the first few days of a period.

What Can I Do About Cramps?

Many girls have cramps with their period, especially in the first few days. If
cramps bother you, you can try:

Should I Watch for Any Problems?

Most girls don't have any problems with their periods. But call your doctor if
you:

are 15 and haven't started your period

have had your period for more than 2 years and it still doesn't come regularly
(about every 4–5 weeks)

have bleeding between periods

have severe cramps that don't get better with ibuprofen or naproxen

have very heavy bleeding (bleeding that goes through a pad or tampon faster than
every 1 hour)

have periods that last more than about a week

have severe PMS that gets in the way of your everyday activities

Looking Ahead

Periods are a natural, healthy part of a girl's life.
They shouldn't get in the way of exercising, having fun, and enjoying life. If you
have questions about periods, ask your doctor, a parent, health teacher, school nurse,
or older sister.